The Tele Manas centre in Srinagar.
| Photo Credit: Nissar Ahmad
Trigger warning: The following article comprises references to self-harm; please keep away from studying in case you really feel disturbed by violence
On April 26, it took Areeba (title modified to guard privateness), a counsellor on the Tele Manas helpline in Srinagar, over 40 minutes to deescalate a caller from north Kashmir’s Baramulla from the chance of self-harm. “The 26-year-old labourer had a blade in his pocket. The person he worked for had not paid him, and he faced acute financial stress. His sister helped to take the blade away. We made him pause and introspect — we helped him see the light at the end of a dark tunnel,” Areeba stated.
Over the previous six months, the Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (IMHANS) in Srinagar has obtained 10,500 calls from individuals in misery throughout Jammu and Kashmir’s toll free numbers 14416 and 1800-891-4416.
The highest quantity fielded was in Maharashtra, as per official figures launched by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Launched as a psychological well being care service by the Ministry final yr, the 24×7 service in Srinagar has six psychologists.
The extent of Kashmir’s psychological well being disaster may be gauged from the truth that on the second day of Eid, in any other case an event of festivity within the Muslim-majority Union Territory (UT), the centre received 119 misery calls, most between 4 p.m. and 11 a.m.
Of the ten,500 calls attended to since November final yr, round 3,000 have been acute misery calls that ranged from self-harm to violence. Most self-harm was seen in these between 20 and 30 years. Up to 65% have been from ladies, who expressed emotions of loneliness, and spoke about marriage battle, post-partum stress, relationship bother, and parental disagreements. For males, unemployment and monetary misery triggered the calls.
“Last month, we received a number of calls related to examination stress,” Dr. Hina Hajini, a psychiatrist working with IMHANS, stated. The centre organized 2,500 follow-up calls in critical instances. “It would take people living in far-off areas two days to reach mental health care in Srinagar. Now, basic issues are handled on a call,” she stated.
Besides psychological well being points, the centre additionally talks about taboo topics in conservative Kashmir. “We are able to destigmatise topics like dating, sexuality, and sexual orientation. Women talk about their issues freely now,” Manaal Andrabi, a psychologist from IMHANS, stated.
In the wake of the rising response, the ability is being expanded to different areas too. “One more Tele Manas centre is under process in Jammu. Tele Manas is being linked to the district mental health programme across all J&K,” Dr. Qazi Haroon, State Programme Manager, Mental Health, J&Ok, stated. An on-line chatbot will even be rolled out to handle the wants of the individuals, which shall be accessible on the prevailing numbers.
